Early Careers Trainee

Carpenter Box is proud to be part of the Sumer Group. We are chartered accountants, tax, and business advisers based in the South East. Our culture is built on collaboration, innovation, and professional excellence, where every team member is encouraged to grow, contribute, and make a real difference.

Whether you're finishing college, graduating from university or looking for a career change – there's more than one way to begin your career with us in accountancy, audit or tax. Our trainee roles are designed to help you learn on the job, gain a professional qualification, and build a future you can be proud of, whichever path you take to get there.

We're now inviting applications for our Early Careers Trainee Programme, designed for those ready to take their first step into a rewarding career in accountancy. Whether your passion lies in Audit, Accounts or Tax, you'll gain the skills, qualifications and experience to become a fully qualified professional, supported every step of the way.

You'll be joining a friendly, professional team where enthusiasm, curiosity and commitment are valued as highly as experience. From day one, you'll work with a range of clients — learning how to prepare accounts, support audits, and provide insightful tax and business advice.

As your confidence grows, so will your responsibilities. You'll have opportunities to work directly with clients, contribute to projects, and gain a real understanding of how successful businesses operate.

We'll equip you with the technical training and personal skills development you need to progress, ensuring you build a strong foundation for a long-term career in accountancy.

You'll join a training contract, combining practical client experience with professional study towards your qualification (AAT, ACA, ACCA, ATT or CTA).

Alongside your qualification, you'll become part of the Sumer Academy – our dedicated early careers development programme. The Academy runs alongside your studies, offering a blend of online, virtual and in-person learning focused on building both your technical skills and the soft skills that will help you thrive in your future career.

You'll also train as part of a group-wide cohort, connecting with other trainees from across the Sumer Group to share experiences and learn together.

To apply, you'll need a strong A-Level or equivalent academic background, including a minimum of a Grade C/5 in English and B/6 Maths at GCSE level (or equivalent).

You'll also be:

• An effective communicator – confident in listening and expressing ideas clearly with clients and colleagues.
• Collaborative – a team player who enjoys sharing ideas and working together to achieve great results.
• Time efficient – able to balance work and study with good organisation and prioritisation.
• A problem solver – curious, adaptable and ready to take on challenges.
• Results focused – proud to deliver a high standard of work and service.
• Keen to learn – enthusiastic about developing your skills and career.

Applications will close on 25 November at 5pm. If your application is shortlisted you will receive a link to our online assessment via our partner provider, Canditech, around the 27 November where you will have 7 days to complete this.

The final stage is our in person assessment centre, the dates of these are the 9 and 23 January 2026 in our Worthing office.

Key Details

• Location: Brighton
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday
• Start Date: August 2026

Belong @ Sumer

At Sumer, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment, not just as buzzwords, but as the heartbeat of our team. Our recruitment practices reflect this commitment, welcoming individuals from all backgrounds. We prioritise creating an environment where every candidate feels respected and supported throughout the hiring process.

Everyone is unique and we understand that each individual may have distinct needs to showcase their best selves during interviews. Our commitment is to offer personalised support for all candidates. Let our team know how we can bring out your fullest potential.

Our Values

We have a strong set of values that define who we are and everything we do:

• WE SHINE TOGETHER – We celebrate everyone's individuality, and work as one team.
• WE DO THE RIGHT THING – We act with kindness, fairness and integrity in everything we do.
• WE MAKE IT COUNT – We're quietly brave as we make a difference, every day, for our clients and communities.

• Full study support, including paid study leave and course fee
• Buddy and mentoring systems to help you settle in and progress
• Group-wide cohort training through the Sumer Academy
• Opportunities to grow your career beyond qualification
• Exposure to a diverse range of clients and project
• 25 days holiday, with the option to purchase additional days
• Working in a relaxed, friendly, modern environment
• Agile working hours in a hybrid environment
• Paid overtime or take time off in lieu if you work over your contracted hours
• Opportunity to join our Cash Plan scheme
• Carpenter Box Lifestyle Hub which offers discounts for online and high street shop
• Relaxed dress code policy

Welcome to Carpenter Box, one of the largest independent firms in the South East. We have a headcount of over 250 staff across our offices in Worthing, Crawley, Brighton, Chichester, Portsmouth and London. We're always looking for motivated and excited people who share our values to help us serve our expanding client base and grow our exceptional practice.